Slot Balances Rest and Focus Ahead of Liverpool vs Brighton | OneFootball

Slot Strikes a Balance Ahead of Liverpool’s Trip to Brighton

Rest and rhythm the focus after title triumph

With the Premier League title already wrapped in red ribbon, Arne Slot faces a different challenge—keeping Liverpool sharp while avoiding burnout. Their trip to Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday night marks their final away fixture of a historic campaign, and Slot has opted for a carefully measured approach to training.

Eight days have passed since Liverpool’s pulsating 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Anfield, a result that underlined their dominance even in celebration mode. In the week since, Slot granted his players four days of rest before reconvening at the AXA Training Centre.

“Today [Friday] is the first day we come back together,” Slot explained during his pre-match press conference. “We feel this is also a very good lead-up to our game on Monday, because I have said before that it is quite difficult for a team that already won the league to train so many days in a row if you’ve already won something.

“So you need to find the balance between days off and preparing very well for the next game. So, we train today, tomorrow and Sunday, that’s three days in a row to be very well prepared for Brighton.”

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Slot mindful of demanding season

The Dutchman has been careful not to overlook the mental and physical toll of a relentless campaign, which saw Liverpool fight deep into the domestic cups and maintain a European challenge until the spring.

“Keep in mind that these players never had a few days off during the season because we were in the FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League – and of course the Premier League – for a long time,” he added. “So where other teams maybe had a few days off during the season, we hardly ever had that.”

This balance of rest and preparation highlights Slot’s thoughtful management style—one that prioritises wellbeing while preserving competitive edge, even in fixtures that might otherwise feel like formalities.

Alexander-Arnold situation remains unclear

Slot was also asked about the potential involvement of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has been nursing a fitness issue. While the defender’s absence in recent days is notable, clarity remains elusive.

“As you know, I wasn’t here in the last few days and neither was Trent, so I haven’t spoken to him yet,” Slot admitted. “It’s quite early for me now to say what the team would look like and what the squad would look like for Monday.”

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Conor Bradley returned to action against Arsenal, while Joe Gomez remained unavailable following hamstring surgery in February. Slot confirmed last week that Gomez is “getting closer and closer” to a return, though Monday may come too soon.

Brighton boosted by returning key figures

For Fabian Hürzeler’s Brighton side, the reverse fixture brings optimism. Joao Pedro is back from suspension, while defenders Lewis Dunk, Igor Julio, and Joel Veltman are expected to feature following injury layoffs.

The status of Kaoru Mitoma remains under review, and there was no fresh update on Ferdi Kadioglu, who hasn’t featured since November. Former Liverpool midfielder James Milner and Solly March, however, are both set to miss out.

With both sides carrying varying degrees of physical and emotional fatigue, Monday’s encounter will be less about stakes and more about rhythm, recovery, and reputation. For Slot, it’s another test of judgement—balancing freshness with focus as Liverpool look to end a golden season with the standards that won them the crown.